The Pierce

OUTAGE

the power goes out suddenly the bright city remembers what darkness is all about windows blackout one by one streetlights surrender traffic signals fall silent the skyline disappears we look up from our phones the battery is 50% the device needs power and the power is gone the sky was there the whole time now it too is gone no way to reach out how did we forget how to call when the phone goes dark we can't go live no way to broadcast that we're still alive we can no longer announce our existence or beg for help when we need assistance now we hope our neighbors in a time of danger are people we can trust we are strangers because we never talk to them and they don't talk to us yet suddenly they become the only people we can reach it seems none of what we learn about the light matters for long when darkness is sure to return we look for the light we search for the truth in our darkest hour we forget how to shine yet even a spark can teach the dark how to recede like water finding ...

Reserved Sovereignty

"Asking" when does asking
collapse into begging

  It happens when the hand
stays out too long 

 Waiting for a drop of water
to fall into the palm

Drawn from a well that's been
dry so long

 I ask my mother a simple question
formulated from a natural need

 I don't go any farther than the 
act of asking

I do not step across the border

 Where a request becomes a plea

 Mama became good at fixin'
broken promises of my father 

 Mending the tears inside me

 refusing to sacrifice my dignity

I usually leave the question on the floor

I turn away before it has the chance
to drop me to my knees

For I only give my God my please
 

The Painful Chapter

Walk Away

answers never came in spoken words in the silence of a room plans were delayed and calls went unheard shadows formed where trees should bloom seasons begging skies to change the current weather of ones mind the fog cleared from these eyes to see what was left behind When the sky is no longer blue When finally you know the truth the only thing left to do is reclaim the days of ones youth no final fight no grand goodnight no explanation left behind to say goodbye

Resolution & Revelation

Sometimes you have to write down
    your frustrations instead of 
    filling out a complaint form. 

A Stranger To The Familiar

You can return to 
    where you started
    without being the 
    same person who left.

I'm Gonna Need You (08032026)

one day I'm gonna need you to hold my hand one day I'm gonna need you to help me stand I'm gonna need you to help me do all the things I done for myself without no one's help one day I'm gonna need you to hold my hand one day I'm gonna need you to help me stand I'm gonna need you to help me do all the things I done for myself without no one's help one day I'm gonna need you to answer the phone one day I'm gonna need you to respond to the text I'm gonna need you to do a wellness check one day I'm gonna need you to come through I'm gonna need you to stop by but you won't show up for me you won't lift me up you won't answer the phone you won't check on me you won't respond to the text you won't help me do all the things I once did for myself without help from no one else

TIW 7/31/26

" Its a set up to up set you if you get up set it wins."

Stream of Consciousness

you taught me how to survive you keep teaching me how to get by how can I lose when I know how to win when I switched from pencil to pen I made mistakes I couldn't erase you told me to do it over again I got frustrated I really did hate it you taught me how to behave you told me to make the grades I studied hard to make you proud of me you told me you would be proud of me degree or no degree as long as I achieve you told me to prosper before I knew the meaning of the word I looked it up wrote it down impressed the meaning in my mind you told me to draw a line through impossible you wanted me to believe it's possible you told me don't sit around waiting for opportunity to knock on the door you told me to get up go out and get what's mine you told me to name it you told me to claim it you told me I had to be invested you taught me how to manifest it you taught me alot of lessons some I still remember some I forgot no matter what I can't say I didn't have someone in my life who want...

TIW 7/29/26